With just one month to go until the World Exposition in Osaka opens, predictions of a nearly 3 trillion yen ($20 billion) economic impact are looking shaky as advance ticket sales remain slow and pavilions face delays in completion.
A visitor target of 28.2 million for the April 13-Oct 13 event on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay is the basis for the government's estimate of an economic impact worth 2.92 trillion yen across the country.
But advance tickets sold as of March 5 stood at 8.07 million since they went on sale in November 2023, far off the target of 14 million set by the organizers. Meanwhile, only about 20 percent of so-called Type A self-built pavilions, considered the highlight of the expo, have been certified by the organizers as completed.
Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, acknowledged that the goal of 14 million advance ticket sales was "extremely ambitious."
"It is true there is a risk that construction (of the pavilions) will not be finished in time for the expo's opening," Ishige said, vowing to provide necessary assistance.
Visitors are required to book tickets online for specific dates and times to minimize queues, but critics say the ticket reservation system is too complex and has contributed to the lackluster presales.
The organizers have recently been forced to review their original plan and introduce same-day tickets.
Rises in materials costs, delays in making contracts with building contractors due to complex designs, and labor shortages are among the factors that have hampered progress in pavilion construction.
The association has requested participating countries to finish constructing the pavilions by the middle of January.
Of the 47 countries building the Type-A pavilion, however, only eight -- Ireland, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Malaysia and Hungary -- have had their buildings certified by the association as completed.
Foreign participants have also been asked to complete their interior displays by around March 13 and gain the association's approval for accepting visitors. No country has reached that stage yet.
It was only in December last year that all countries planning Type A pavilions started construction work. Some countries originally planning to set up their own pavilions have switched to the simpler Type X pavilions that are built by the organizer and rented out to participants.
The site's construction cost has nearly doubled from the initial estimate to 235 billion yen, with the central government, the Osaka prefectural and municipal governments, and the private sector each bearing a third of the bill.
In a survey by the Osaka prefectural and city governments in December, one-third of respondents in Japan expressed interest in visiting the expo, below the expo association's target of 50 percent.
Japan is hosting the World Exposition for the third time, following events in 1970 in Osaka Prefecture and in 2005 in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.
In addition to the Japanese government and private sector, 158 countries and regions and seven international organizations are planning exhibitions at pavilions, according to Japanese Foreign Ministry.
© KYODO
20 Comments
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tamanegi
I was just in a major electrical store in the Osaka suburbs this afternoon where some of those Expo intestine mascot goods were discounted by 20%.
Namahage
That mascot is hard to stomach.
kohakuebisu
I'm time and cash poor at the moment, but if I can rectify them, I'd be up for going. We went to the Nagoya Expo when my missus was pregnant with our first child, and it would be nice to go again with the kids to complete the circle.
I'm actually a total sucker for science-fiction type depiction of future utopias. The Crystal Palace in Victorian Britain or the Epcot things at Disney World. That song "I.G.Y" by Donald Fagen from Steely Dan, its a nostaglic look at 1950s techno optimism, makes me want to cry when I hear it. Not many songs or forms of nostalgia do this.
wanderlust
After construction delays, they now can't get enough staff to operate the pavilions. Many countries have left it too late to install equipment and secure staff.
sakurasuki
Sounds just like what happened with collosal event, Tokyo Olympics back in 2020-2021. Big capital but no significant return of investment at all. However that what JGovt really like with tax payer money lately.
tamanegi
@wanderlust Correct. Staff shortage especially bilingual staff is massive. It was highlighted on the local Osaka news back in January. They reported they had been reaching out to universities and people involved with the Tokyo Olympics.
koiwaicoffee
Expensive, tickets are expensive.
And there's no clue or promotion about what to see in the expo. For the most part it just seems to be promotional stands for participant countries, with pamphlets and video displays.
kurisupisu
I made a half hearted attempt to work at one of the pavilions but having done a long psych test and having set up a telephone interview I was told that ALL vacancies had been filled
I was then asked if I wanted to put screws in boxes in Himeji, in a factory but it required standing during all the shifts-I declined…
BertieWooster
No surprise here. It was destined to be a washout from the start.
robert maes
The world expo’s are now anachronism. The only purpose is for companies to Rob tax payers money and politicians to pocket bribes.
many international visits by several ministerial departments from participating countries also to no other avail but get into their taxpayers pockets.
nothing new is shown because the internet takes care of that within hours now. Well, there is the biggest sushi convertible of course.
Aoi Azuuri
Hotbed of intermediate exploitation to benefit related corporations with taxes, Expo2025. It victimizes even recovery of Noto peninsula, But its construction is delayed. Besides, It's problematic such as cost ballooning, gus-explosion risk, fire ants, rest area under hanged rocks, collecting personal information.
Next is that fringes of base of iconic wood ring is already collapsing.
Blackstar
@robert maes
The world expo’s are now anachronism.
Nothing new is shown because the internet takes care of that within hours now.
Exactly right. These events are meaningless in the modern world.
Chyobaka
It’s just like a traveling Epcot Center. So I don’t know what some of you are saying it doesn’t need to exist in the modern world. I went in 2005 and it was very interesting. It also had the first 8k projector outdoors and the Toyota robots. I agree though it’s hard to see what is going on this year and it sounds expensive. The mascot isn’t as good as the last ones but it’s all good
Azzprin
.
Nothing to see here.
Just the normal underestimating of costs and the reality showing the true costs.
Bobby Franks
Is the Osaka Expo worth the travel, accommodation, and entry-ticket expense if you are outside the Osaka area? Is it worth the access hassle (40-45 minutes one-way from Shin-Osaka Station)?
For many, the answer appears to be an emphatic “No.”
Speed
Imagine paying all that money and then showing up with many of the pavillions incomplete. People ain't having that.
BorisM
I'll probably go because it's local, but wouldn't bother if it was in another city that required an overnight stay. I just hope it's better than the ridiculous mascot representing it.
NCIS Reruns
These big events are basically the politicians' way of getting the public on board for major infrastructure projects. Which in Osaka's case this time will be a glitzy casino resort.
Xachan86
I agree with people saying World Expo's are now an anachronism. I went to Aichi 2005 and it was nice, but frankly speaking, it was more nice because it was so many countries gathered than because of the "technologies", "visions", etc, displayed. My main memories are seeing the Emperor at Nagoya's station and the Rose ice cream from the Bulgarian pavilion. Not exactly very technologic. But still fun.
20 years later, with Internet and social networks everywhere in our daily lives, World Expos are NOT where you have to go to see the future.
falseflagsteve
Many people made serious dough out of this, many palms greased, mark my words.
It’s in a ruddy awkward place too, glad they didn’t put it close to where I live, imagine all them people would drive anyone bonkers.